Erection of buildings



Nov. 1, 1955 J. w. LUDOWICI ERECTION OF BUILDINGS Filed July 14, 1952 Inventor J mm," mom B en v ta A/"(1+ O ohmck.

Attorneys United States Patent 0 ERECTION OF BUILDINGS Johann Wilhelm Ludowici, Jockgrim, Pfalz, Germany Application July 14, 1952, Serial No. 298,755

Claims priority, application Germany July 25, 1951 4 Claims. (Cl. 201) In the specification of my co-pending patent application Serial No. 222,989, filed April 26, 1951, there is described a building, or a casing for the production of buildings, which consists of parts which are hingedly connected together. On transport, the parts of the building or of the casing can be folded together, so that they can be transported conveniently. At the final place at which they are erected, the parts are again unfolded into the condition of use.

The subject matter of the present invention is an improvement in or modification of the method described in the specification of my aforesaid application. This improvement or modification renders it possible to erect the building immediately without previously making a foundation.

The erection of buildings, especially in cases in which an immediate habitability or usability plays a decisive part. has hitherto been retarded in erection constructions of different systems by reason of the fact that first a foundation ring or a basement had to be erected after the corresponding removal of the soil. The delays which result in those cases are not only due to the setting time of the concrete of the foundation but further considerable loss of time may be occasioned by periods of rainfall or cold. By means of the method according to the present invention, this drawback is obviated by virtue of the fact that the building is first supported by means of girders which, in turn, are supported on the ground on dishshaped supporting plates. By means of a spherical seating of these plates and props which are adjustable in height it is rendered possible, without ground work, to level all the girders and, in the case of soils of different nature, to effect subsequent corrections beneath the load. In this way, the buildings can be erected and immediately used independently of the production of a foundation or basement and independently of weather conditions. The erection of a foundation or of a basement can then not only be carried out at any desired time but it is possible, by means of the structure already standing, to enable an almost complete protection from damp and, with only small temporary means, a protection against cold to be provided. The previous installation of suitable drains allows not only a thorough mechanisation of the subsequent soil-removing operations but also, for example in the case of settlement buildings, the convenient fitting in of the personal devices of the families of the settlement directly at the residence, whereas, otherwise, considerable expense for conveying and accommodating the workmen for such foundation work would be incurred which, in the case of erection of buildings, is in a specially high proportion to that required for the rapid erection of the actual house.

The invention will now be explained with the aid of the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 represents, by way of example, a house or building 2 mounted on girders 1.

Fig. 2 represents it in plan. The length of the girders 1 is such that they project beyond the base surface of ice the house and are provided with spindle nuts 3 and props 4 having a spherical or convex head which are adjustable in height in the said nuts.

Fig. 3 shows on a larger scale than Fig. 1, the girder 1 in the raised position.

Fig. 4 shows an arrangement of the adjustable and universally movable supporting means, in which the prop 4 is adjustable in height in the supporting plate 5 and supports the girder 1 through the supporting plate 7 which is in the form of a ball socket.

Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical views showing the house disposed above the foundation walls.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but with the house iowered on the foundation.

Fig. 5 shows how the cellar pit can be dug out beneath the finished house after a trench 8 for carrying off the excavated material has previously been prepared. It can also be seen from Fig. 5 how the basement can be made or a foundation rim 9 can be erected as a final support for the house, suitable recesses 10 (Fig. 6) being provided in order that it should be possible to remove the girders 1 after the house has settled. Also, a gap 11 opening on to the trench 8 is left for the passage of supply and waste pipes.

What I claim is:

1. A method of erecting structures, particularly houses or buildings, in which the structure is first placed temporarily on girders which are vertically adjustable by means of threaded supports, and a permanent foundation is erected under said structure, which method comprises providing recesses in the rim of the permanent foundation, lowering the girders into said recesses by actuation of the threaded supports until the structure rests on the foundation, and withdrawing the girders laterally through the recesses.

2. A method of erecting structures, particularly houses or buildings in which the structure is first placed temporarily upon girders which are vertically adjustable by means of threaded supports, and a permanent foundation is erected under the structure, a preliminary step comprising excavating a trench over which the structure is to be erected, the trench being adapted to receive a conveying device, the method further comprising providing recesses in the rim of the permanent foundation, lowering the girders into said recesses by actuation of the threaded supports until the structure rests upon the foundation, and withdrawing the girders laterally through the recesses.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 in which said preliminary step further comprises bridging the trench with said girders so that the girders extend beyond the outline of the structure.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2 further comprising providing a gap in the rim of the permanent foundation openin into the trench, said gap and trench adapted to be used solely for receiving supply and Waste pipes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,850,638 Schioler Mar. 22, 1932 2,165,192 Muirhead July 4, 1939 2,422,795 McKnight June 24, 1947 2,581,192 La Fleur Jan. 1, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 148,221 France Apr. 1, 1882 OTHER REFERENCES Engineering News, December 19, 1912, pages 1134 and 1 1 3 5 

